After emotional speech: no longer a caterpillar but a butterfly, free

Editor's note: Roosevelt Elementary School eighth-grader Kenya Hernandez testified Wednesday before a national panel of educators and policy makers about her experiences in Stockton as an English-language learner. This is the second of three letters home she is writing for The Record.

Editor's note: Roosevelt Elementary School eighth-grader Kenya Hernandez testified Wednesday before a national panel of educators and policy makers about her experiences in Stockton as an English-language learner. This is the second of three letters home she is writing for The Record.

Oh boy, where do I begin? I slept so wonderful I didn't even hear the alarm clock ring in the morning, didn't even know what time it was when I woke up. But I realized I didn't wake up in my own bed.

The first thing I'm thinking is where's my mom? Where's my sister? Where's my two dogs trying to lick me to wake up? Can't help the fact that I miss them already but I knew it was OK for me to feel that way.

What made me feel better was when I received my first Washington, D.C., breakfast.

"YUM!" can't even explain the taste. It was the best. Getting prepared and ready to go speak in front of so many people I don't know was the scariest thing I've felt.

Being in the cab was fun. Driving by so many buildings I had never seen in my life amazed me. I wish we had time to visit every building I saw, but I had a job to accomplish first.

When I got to talk and communicate with everyone there, I felt a connection and love. I didn't ever think I would get so close to them, especially not on the first day, but I did.

I felt like an adult and so mature being inside the capital with all the other grown-ups. I've never seen so many settled women and men, so organized and bright. When I was taken on a tour around the capital, all I could say was "WOW." Everything is beautiful and I can't believe I'm here.

When I started hearing the teachers speak and giving their perspectives, I felt like I had all the answers to their questions and reasons. When I got up there and started to speak, I got really emotional and thought I couldn't do it. But I made it and I couldn't be happier to feel released. I am no longer a caterpillar in its shell; I am a butterfly and I'm free.

Being interviewed by TeleNoticias was awesome but scary. Having to speak to them in Spanish was hard but made me think about my family and opened up my heart. I'm glad I said everything I felt.

Meeting Congressmen McNerney and Cardoza was an honor. With Mr. Cardoza I felt like we made a connection at first sight. Didn't get to talk to him a lot but enough to know who he is and where he's coming from. Knowing that he will be visiting my town, coming to my school, I'm excited and I feel like one of the luckiest girls in the world to experience something fantastic like this.